to be posed that the council has put up normal gym membership 10% but left all the discounted ones alone leaving mugs like me to sub them

[suzzieanneba46]

Gym membership has now gone up from 40 to 44. But what really pissed me off is saying in the letter that they are happy that discounted rates will remain unchanged.

I don't mind subing other peoples membership if they need it, but most of the people I know get discounted membership even though they have more money than me. Discounted membership is given to all 60+ that seems a bit strange as this isn't retirement age and not really that old. My parents both get this 25% discount and they don't need it at all. Its also given to professionals in the nearby office as they have some corporate scheme.

YANBU. The percentage increase should be ppplied equally across the board.

yanbu.people that work full time often have to pay premium rates,eg trains,bowling,swimming etc,dosent seem fare as they have no choice to go to the more cheaper options but bare the increases

Shit on a bike

You would be so pissed to live round my way, 60+ get discount at hairdressers and local chip shop

btw I think its great they get discount

Why should a working person (as many 60+ yr olds are) get a discount on anything just because of their age?

The health benefits of the gym applys for every single person. So I don't buy that argument.

30-40 for a council gym is average price as its not a swanky health club. I paid 36 for access to all london council gyms about 6-7 years ago.

I've had to retire early to look after a seriously disabled dh. A 10% rise would stop me being able to attend.

YABU - council gyms are not funded by memberships - they are funded by council tax - everyone pays for the facilities.

One that's not true as the council facilities are leased to a private company to run for a profit. Two even if that is the case, why should only the people with a full price membership have an increase in price?

A 10% rise is probably going to cause me to cancel my membership.

I don't mind so much the older people and disabled getting a discount, what i think is a piss take at my local council own/run gyms is that it is less than half the price for the unemployed, the same people that dont pay for council tax in the first place.

ERM unemployed don't get a discount, JSA people do and its the same 25% discount that all over 60 get. I don't have a problem with someone living on 70 a week getting a discount. And JSA people have to pay ct, at best they get 75% discount.

If I had my way id only give discounted rates to people that are in need, so anyone on benefits or a poor pensioner claiming pension credit and then allow everyone that is able to pay have the same fee.

OBS the 25% is at my former gym and yours is 50. I think 50 is fairer for JSA tbh.

850Pro So people who may be unemployed through no fault of their own aren't allowed to access facilities available to others because they don't pay council tax? Does that mean the disabled are only entitled to the same discount they get on their council tax? Does it mean that someone who may well have been a gym instructor cannot continue to keep fit in the hopes of gaining further employment?
More to the point, what is your beef with an unemployed person using facilities?

My beef is that the facilities should be used by those that have paid for them.

Wow, that's one expensive gym . DH pays £16 a month! The other ones near by are only £20 a month absolute max! I'm just aghast at £44 .

Mine is being raised from 16.99 to 18.99. They still have posters up advertising joining at 16.99.

If that is still valid when my rise kicks in I will cancel and start a new membership.

My beef is that the facilities should be used by those that have paid for them.
Many people with disabilities get a discount on their council tax. There are families, such as mine in which my dh has become so disabled that we are in receipt of benefits. This means we don't pay council tax. Should I stop using the gym?

85pro the unemployed do pay council tax out of their 71 pounds ish. Can't imagine many can afford even half price gym membership.

They probably encourage the over 60s to fill the place through the day when younger people are at work.

Hence the reduced price.

Think it's the same with bus passes, it makes them use the bus out of rush hour.

My nearest gym is now £98 per month. Yes, £98. I am not a member since having kids.

There is a council gym near me that is out of borough so I couldn't access the discounts that has free swimming for under fives and over 60s and subsidised memberships for various other groups, no parking costs and membership is still about £50 a month. I'd take the £44

my council have made it free for all kids to go swimming me and dh can also go free with the kids as ds2 has asd and learning difficulties and is on the councils record of disabled children so we go as his carers we can also use the council gyms half price as ds2 gets DLA yeah[ for the gym]

i wish ours would make kids free,the nearest one including bus fares (3miles away)cost's me £16 to go

thats for me and my son

£16? That's expensive I thought they were trying to encourage swimming its all kids under 16 in my LA so pretty good.

it works out

£7 bus fare
£4 junior
£5 adult

i already take him to a football school once a week that cost's £12 with bus fares,i cant afford to take him there twice as it would be nearly £30 on activities

Prices vay so much. Our council gym and pool do not offer discounts for over 60's etc. It is £6.80 for me and ds2 to swim. However I pay £40 per month and all my dc under 16 swim free.

Gosh I'm not sure I'd like under 16s free swimming , purely based on how awful London buses can be when school is out.